title: Current and future therapies for chronic constipation.
abstract: In this article, traditional and novel therapies for chronic constipation are reviewed. Traditional laxatives are effective at inducing bowel movements, but efficacy in long-term management and efficacy on constipation-associated abdominal symptoms are less well established, with the exception of polyethylene glycol, for which long-term studies confirm sustained efficacy. Recently approved drugs include the colonic secretagogue lubiprostone and the 5-HT4 agonist prucalopride. In controlled trials in chronic constipation, these drugs were shown to significantly improve constipation and its associated symptoms, with a favourable safety record. Methylnaltrexone, a subcutaneously administered peripherally acting mu opioid receptor antagonist, has recently been approved for opioid-induced constipation in terminally ill patients. New agents under evaluation include the 5-HT4 agonists velusetrag and naronapride, the guanylate cyclase-C receptor agonist linaclotide and the peripherally acting mu opioid receptor antagonist alvimopan.
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. jan.tack@med.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tack
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents